Choosing the right tie for work can be tricky. After all, you don’t want to look too stuffy or too casual for a work event. Fortunately, there are a few tips, tricks & guidelines that you can keep in mind to ensure that you make the right choice when it comes to office neckwear. Whether you’re looking for a classic silk tie or something more alternative like a grenadine or printed silk tie, this blog post will help you nail the perfect tie for any office setting.

So you’ve got that elusive super 120 suit purchased, and even had it adjusted for those meticulous measurements. You try it on, and it appears like you’ve been poured into it. Quite literally. Snug fit, tailored measurements and supreme fabric in tow, what could possibly go awry, you think to yourself. Until the day comes to dress for that potentially career altering presentation. All the details have been taken into consideration, and yet that one glaring omission rears its ugly head and makes you confront your negligence. You have no idea what tie to pair your snazzy new suit and dress shirt with.

After all, a necktie is often what draws the audience’s attention first, with regards to your ensemble. And a suit without the right tie, is like home made pizza crust in Naples without the right toppings. Empty. Devoid of substance.

Featuring The Dark Knot’s Medallion Foulard Navy / Orange Silk Tie

As you frantically rummage through your neckwear selection, figuring out which tie will be appropriate suddenly seems like an insurmountable task. Fret not. In this detailed guide, we cover the different types of tie colors, patterns & fabrics that are best suited to the workplace and important meetings, and how best to wear them when you do don one the next time round!

If you are in an office environment that permits or encourages the wearing of ties, picking out an appropriate and impactful pattern can go a long way!

Solid Ties

Solid ties are ideal when attending more formal events, as they exude an air of sophistication. While solid ties may lack the pizzazz of their more colorful counterparts, they make up for it in timelessness.

Solid ties come in virtually any color, making them easy to match with almost any ensemble. Light colored solid ties look especially good when paired with dark suits while darker colored solid ties go well with both lighter and darker colored ensembles.

Featuring The Dark Knot’s Domaso Grenadine Brown Silk Tie

Business Casual Attire

While more serious office attire is best complemented by traditional silk ties, business casual attire will allow you some flexibility when choosing to dress to the nines in a more casual environment.

Knitted Ties

Knitted Ties, manufactured through knitting (gasp!), are characterized by an open weave, a narrower blade and square ends (versus triangular ends for conventional ties), lending to a more casual look. With the rising popularity of knit ties, they are now available in a range of patterns including solids, stripes, zig zag patterns & polka dots, amongst others.

Please feel free to view The Dark Knot’s range of stunning Silk Knitted Ties

Featuring The Dark Knot’s Cherry Creek Silk Knit Tie

Linen & Cotton Ties

The perfect antidote to the stuffier silk counterpart, linen & cotton ties exude a more relaxed vibe, and are therefore best worn in a more casual office capacity, especially during the spring / summer months.

Daily Work

Wearing a tie to work is a great way to look professional and make a good impression. Depending on the office dress code, wearing a tie can be required or optional. In most business settings, a tie should be worn when attending meetings or client presentations. Solid, striped and foulard ties work effectively in daily work settings.

Please feel free to view The Dark Knot’s range of Ties for Daily Work

Featuring The Dark Knot’s Wilton Stripes Blue Silk Tie

Presentation

Whether it’s a formal meeting or a client presentation, wearing a tie is the best way to show that you take the occasion seriously. It’s important to keep the tie understated and professional for this type of occasion.

While solid, striped and foulard ties can be complementary during a presentation, a polka dot or paisley tie will provide more visual pop and allow you to make an even more pronounced statement!

Please feel free to view The Dark Knot’s range of Ties for Presentations

Featuring The Dark Knot’s Dorchester Foulard Bluish Grey Silk Tie

Sales Meeting

If you’re making a sales pitch, dressing appropriately is imperative. Wearing a well-coordinated suit with a tie shows that you’re serious about the meeting and prepared to make an impactful impression. A solid, striped or foulard tie will allow you to enter that sales meeting in a professional, yet subtle manner, while a polka dot or paisley tie will allow you to make more of a pronounced statement.

Featuring The Dark Knot’s Georgetown Foulard Navy / Blue / Brown Silk Tie

Conferences & Networking Events

Whether it’s an industry wide conference, a networking event or an after work cocktail party, these occasions provide you with an opportunity to really stand out. Hence, wearing a foulard tie with a more prominent repeating pattern is bound to make a stylistic statement. Pair these ties with a solid, finely striped or microcheckered white, blue or pink shirt. Patterned shirts work particularly well if there is adequate spacing within the tie pattern, helping to create contrast with the shirt.

In addition to foulard ties, printed silk ties with a repeating animal or recreational motif, or a polyester tie in similar vein, can help create a pronounced effect and turn into instant conversation starters. What better way to start a conversation at a cocktail party / networking event than with a unique tie that showcases your interests.

Featuring The Dark Knot’s West Palm Trees Polyester Tie

Tying a tie correctly can be an intimidating task for many people, but it doesn’t have to be. It all starts with selecting the right type of knot for the occasion and your office setting. The three most popular types of knots include the four-in-hand, half-windsor & full windsor knots.

Four-in-Hand Knot

This is the most popular of all tie knots, since it’s the easiest to tie and requires less fabric than other knots. It’s appropriate for all occasions and all office settings, making it a great option for those just starting out with tying a tie. The four-in-hand is an effortless, go to tie knot for daily work.

Featuring The Dark Knot’s Berkshire Abstract Navy / Turquoise Silk Tie

Half-Windsor Knot

This is a medium-sized knot that works well in both formal and casual office settings. It’s slightly more formal than the four-in-hand and takes a little more time to tie. The half windsor knot can work effectively with daily work, an important presentation or a sales meeting.

Featuring The Dark Knot’s Windsor Grey Skinny Silk Tie

Full Windsor Knot

Also known as the double-Windsor, this is a larger knot with a distinct shape. It’s appropriate for formal occasions and is best reserved for special events or high-level meetings.